A campaign is growing in Ireland to support the international movement
of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel over its war crimes
in Gaza.

The Irish trade union Mandate has called on more that 20 companies in
Ireland asking management to “desist from trading, investment, or other
commercial links with companies operating in providing services to, or
sourcing goods from settlements in the region of Israel”.

“It’s a way that individuals and businesses can use their power as
people to actually make a stand and we hope it won’t just be individuals
who refuse to buy but also workers who refuse to handle.”

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the anti-apartheid strike at
Dunnes Stores, an action that she said had “resounded all the way to
Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island in Apartheid South Africa.”

“We believe that thirty years on, it remains immoral to stock products
that help to fund apartheid. Therefore, we ask you to ask retailers to
please stand on the right side of history, to stand against apartheid,
and to cease stocking Israeli goods until Israel ends it occupation of
Palestinian lands, grants equal rights to all its citizens and complies
fully with its obligations under international law.”

A petition has now been released calling on Irish food retailers to
cease selling Israeli produce.

The petition, entitled ‘Stop Selling Israeli Produce’, has already
attracted over 8,000 signatures since it was launched last week. It asks
customers to sign a statement calling on Aldi, Dunnes Stores, Lidl,
Marks & Spencer, Supervalu, Tesco, and others to stop sourcing products
from Israel, which it says continues “to flagrantly breach international
law and commit war crimes against the Palestinian people”.

Meanwhile, a number of businesses around Ireland have publicly announced
a boycott of Israeli goods.

The entire community in Kinvara, County Galway, has united to boycott
all Israeli goods including fruit, vegetables, herbs, cosmetics, toys
and Stanley tool boxes.

Dozens of smaller businesses such as the Exchequer gastropub in Dublin
also initiated an individual boycott and asked customers to join in,
adding that “civilians DO have a voice, we just have to use it”.

But some businesses appear torn. The SuperValu supermarket chain ordered
the removal of Israeli carrots from its shelves, but blamed harvest
conditions, and denied it was imposing a formal boycott on goods from
the country.

Last weekend, staff at Smyths toy store on Jervis Street in Dublin were
told to remove a sign on the door informing members of the public they
had removed products made in Israel from their shelves. The printed sign
was posted on the front door of the shop on Sunday where it was quickly
photographed and circulated on social media.

Smyths later announced the company does “not engage in national or
international political affairs”. It reported one of the company stores
had removed “products from one country” from its shelves last week but
that the decision had now been reversed.

“Our customers should be free to make their own decisions,” they said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has faced pressure to show its support for the BDS
campaign by ending its support for the Caterpillar multinational, whose
machinery products are used extensively by the Israeli military.

Bulldozers made by the engineering company, which has plants in Belfast
and Larne, have been used to raze Palestinian areas and to construct the
‘apartheid wall’ a barrier which imprisons Palestinians in their
enclaves. However, both the DUP leader Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein’s
Martin McGuinness have previously visited Caterpillar’s headquarters and
are strong supporters of the company.

Sinn Fein has not commented on the BDS campaign although the party’s
Mayor in Newry has called on retailers in the town to boycott Israel.
Daire Hughes wrote to retailers last month warning that continued sales
are giving “financial support, succour and legitimacy” to Israel’s
“unchecked and escalating violations of Palestinian human rights.”

The party has also called for Ireland to stop buying Israeli military
goods. Spokesperson Padraig Mac Lochlainn has written to Defence
Minister Simon Coveney calling for a ban on sourcing such equipment from
Israel in light of the conflict in Gaza.

He said the importation of military equipment from Israel sends a clear
message of approval for Israel’s military aggression, including its war
crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

“Ireland should not be buying any military equipment, or trading with, a
country that is massacring civilians and enforcing an illegal and brutal
occupation on millions of Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins spoke yesterday of his own
heartbreak over the situation in Gaza. “One’s heart is broken again and
again,” said the President, who has visited Gaza four times. He said
resolution could only come through the creation of a viable Palestinian
state connected to the West Bank.